Best eSIM for China

China is the one destination where the cheapest plan can be the wrong plan. Nomad is our pick at about US$17 for 10 GB / 30 days because it says in writing that it routes you around the Great Firewall, so Google, WhatsApp and Instagram should work without a VPN. Ubigi matches the price but makes no such promise.

Last updated: 28 Oct 2026 (Pacific/Auckland)Host networks: China Unicom, China Telecom, China Mobile (varies by provider)

Comparison — China

Approx USD list prices from provider pages and public round-ups, checked Oct 2026. Nomad’s US$17 is a sale price (normally ~US$22). Kiwis: these are charged in USD, so roughly add 70–75% for NZD before card fees — check the exchange rate before you buy.

Provider	Data	Days	Approx price	Hotspot	Firewall / VPN
Nomad Value	10 GB	30	US$17	Yes	States it bypasses the firewall at network level — no VPN app needed
Ubigi	10 GB	30	US$17	Yes	No firewall claim we could find; bring a VPN to be safe
Airalo	10 GB	30	US$26.50	Yes	Says a VPN is not required; traffic routed via gateways outside the mainland
Saily	10 GB	30	US$26.99	Yes	Hedges — “may avoid some restrictions”; pair with a VPN
Holafly	Unlimited*	30	~US$76.50	Capped (~1 GB/day)	VPN built into the eSIM; 10 days ~US$36.50 for short trips

Why the firewall column matters. China blocks Google (Maps, Gmail), WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook. A travel eSIM that routes your data out through Hong Kong or another hub sidesteps that; one that drops you straight onto a domestic network doesn’t. Travellers on Reddit consistently report Airalo, Nomad and Holafly working out of the box. Nobody at SkipRoam has speed-tested these in China — the column reflects what each provider commits to in writing.

Before you fly. Install the eSIM at home on Wi-Fi, and if you’re taking a VPN as backup, download and test it in NZ — VPN apps are hard to get once you’re there. Keep your NZ SIM on as a second line: travel eSIMs are data-only, so bank and Alipay verification texts still come to your home number. Set up Alipay (or WeChat Pay) with your card before you leave, and save hotel addresses in Chinese. Visa-free entry rules for NZ passports have been changing — check the current rules before booking.

Quick take

Most travellers should buy Nomad 10 GB / 30 days while the sale price holds, or Airalo if you already use its app and don’t mind paying ~US$9 more. Skip Ubigi and Saily for China unless you’re bringing your own VPN. Holafly only makes sense if you’re a heavy phone user on a short trip and like the idea of not counting gigabytes. Doing China as part of a bigger Asia loop? Compare against our Japan and Vietnam pages.

Check Airalo Check Holafly (official site) Check Saily (official site) Check Nomad (official site) Check Ubigi (official site) Check Yesim

FAQ

Is a travel eSIM cheaper than roaming?

Usually yes — a 10 GB travel eSIM typically costs a fraction of daily roaming passes from home carriers. Heavy users should still compare per-GB prices.

When should I install my travel eSIM?

Install it at home on Wi-Fi a day or two before you fly, but keep it switched off until you land, because many plans start their validity on first connection.

Is 'unlimited' eSIM data really unlimited?

Rarely. Most unlimited plans slow you down after a daily fair-use cap (often 1–5 GB/day) and limit hotspot use. Check the cap before you buy.